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Class _G0/|j2ail 
Book. 1?^ 13 4 . 

CDE^IGHT DEPOSrr. 



RULES 

OF 

RUSSIAN BANK 



Authorized by the 
International Committee 



SECOND EDITION 



PRINTED AND FOR SALE BY 

FDWARD V. RROKAW & PRO., TZT 

stationers ' printers l- ' etc. 

8 Cedar Street, New York 



1920 




RUSSIAN BANK— Second Edition 



Copyright, 1920, by 
EDWARD V. BROKAW & BRO., Inc. 

Printed in the United States of America 
Published April, 1920 



LC Control Number 




©CI.A570523 



tinp96 026247 



^ 



RUSSIAN BANK 



PREFACE. 
The Legend. 

It is claimed that the game of Russian 
Bank was first played in China in the 
twelfth century. This claim is based upon 
certain well-established facts, reasonable as- 
sumptions and shrewd guesses. The year 
is fixed by a statement of the French mis- 
sionary Evariste Regis Hue, on Page 271, 
Volume I, of his ''Travels in Tartary, Thibet 
and China" where he says : ~ 

"Lastly, playing cards — into the origin of 
which so many learned antiquarians would 
not have busied themselves to inquire, were 
it not that it marked one of the first applica- 
tions of the art of engraving on wood — were 
invented in China in the year 1120." 

Other equally famous travellers and arch- 
aeologists ascribe the invention to other 
countries and earlier times; but it is evident 
that this does not invalidate Hue's state- 
ment. The Chinese inventor may never 
have heard of the cards said to have been 
used in India as far back as the year 
800 A.D. 

1 



RUSSIAN BANK 



Of the many designs which have been and 
are used to decorate and distinguish the 
various sets, or packs, of playing cards 
known in China, there is one series of de- 
signs which have spots or pips similar to 
those on a set of dominoes. The author has 
played with such cards in China and, in- 
deed, possesses a pack of these domino cards. 
Further it is to be noted that there is a 
game of dominoes, called "all-fives," "mug- 
gins," or "stop" the object of which (in ad- 
dition to getting rid of the cards originally 
■drawn) is to match the dominoes so as to 
make the sum of the pips on the end cards 
exactly five or some multiple of five. The 
player who so places the dominoes, and 
makes the claim, gets 5, 10, 15 or 20, as 
the case may be, added to his score ; but 
should he fail to make the claim at once his 
adversary may say "muggins" or "stop" and 
add the sum to his own score instead of 
the players. Now the Chinese have from 
time immemorial used the semidecimal sys- 
tem, and are accustomed to think in terms 
of five, so that in the absence of proof to the 
contrary it may be taken for granted that 
this form of the game with domino cards 
was played by them from the time cards 



2 



RUSSIAN BANK 



were invented. If this assumption is correct 
it is easy to connect the Chinese game of 
"Stop" with the game of "Stop" now known; 
by the name of "Russian Bank." Q. E. D. 1 

One must be prepared to admit that there 
may be some weak points in the claim ad- 
vanced by the votaries of Russian Bank; 
and it is only fair to say that the critics 
have some strong arguments to urge 
against it. 

In the first place the pack of 52 cards 
in four equal suits only came to be used in 
the fifteenth century, as the celebrated pack 
of cards painted by Jacquemin Gringon- 
neur, in 1392, for Charles VI contained 78 
cards; that is, four suits of 13 cards similar 
to those now in use, with the addition of a 
"Cavalier" to each suit, plus a fifth suit of 
21 "trumps," and a joker. It was only after 
the hand-painted cards were replaced by 
cards printed from wood blocks, in the first 
quarter of the fifteenth century, that our 
playing cards began, by a process of elimi- 
nation, to approximate the present form. By 
the same process the piquet pack of 32 cards 
was arrived at before the year 1440. But 
all this is by the vv^ay. 



3 



RUSSIAN BANK 



In the second place it is asserted that the 
game first played with packs of 52 cards had 
little resemblance to Russian Bank. Be that 
as it may, there was a game played in 
France with two packs of 52 cards which 
was known as Crepette and which resembled 
Russian Bank as closely as Whist resembled 
Auction Bridge. And here we are on firm 
ground and can trace : — 

The History of the Game. 

From France, Crepette in course of time 
reached Russia; and from Russia was in- 
troduced into Morocco by the Russian Min- 
ister to the Court of the Sultan of Morocco, 
M. Pierre Botkine, who afterwards served 
on the Pelagic Sealing Conference. M. Bot- 
kine taught his version of Crepette under 
another name to Kaid General Sir Harry 
Aubrey de Maclean, the Commander-in- 
Chief of the Sultan's army, who it will be 
remembered, was captured by the Moorish 
brigand Raisuli in July, 1907. and held sev- 
eral months by him for ransom. Raisuli at 
one period confined Sir Harry in a well, and 
only the faithfulness of the latter's Moorish 
servant saved his life. 



4 



RUSSIAN BANK 



When Sir Harry returned to London from 
his captivity he showed his version of M. 
Botkine's game to the Author and others in 
the card-room of the St. Stephen's Club, 
and it was promptly named the "Kaid's 
Patience." 

There was, however, an objection to the 
association of the name of the distinguished 
soldier with a game of cards ; so, after many 
suggestions had been canvassed, it was de- 
cided to adopt one made by the Author and 
rename the game "Russian Bank" in honor 
of the Russian Minister. The important 
matter of the name having been agreed 
upon, the game was developed by a number 
of expert cardplayers ; and improved until it 
bore but a slight resemblance to the original. 
Rules were agreed upon to cover all the 
more important points, but these rules were 
never reduced to writing until after the Au- 
thor introduced the game into the United 
States in the year 1911, when the rules were 
written out, submitted to a Committee of 
the original London players and, after 
unanimous approval, printed privately in the 
year 1915. Under these rules the game has 
been played in New York without much 
change; but elsewhere the rules have been 



5 



RUSSIAN BANK 



departed from, and methods of play have 
tended to diverge. It was therefore decided 
to re-write the rules with the wording modi- 
fied in the direction of greater clearness, 
definition and precision, and to make the 
arrangement and sequence of the rules more 
symetrical. In applying the rules to dis- 
puted points in play one might keep in 
mind, in relation to Russian Bank, the re- 
marks of the Editor of the "Laws of Bridge, 
with Cases and Decisions" published by 
Thomas de la Rue & Co., Ltd., 1907, on 
page XIV. "* * * Bridge is essentially a 
gentleman's game ; ^ * * ^he idea with 
which the laws were first drawn up * * * 
was that they were framed for gentlemen 
playing with gentlemen * * '^ By all 
means, let the game be played strictly. Let 
the proper penalty be always exacted * * * 
but do not let the element of 'sharpness' 
be imported into it. * * *" 

The extraordinary variety in the game of 
Russian Bank has been remarked by ail who 
play it, and this is doubtless due to the fact 
that the game is played with 104 cards 
which give an infinitely greater number of 
combinations than can be obtained in 



6 



RUSSIAN BANK 



Bridge, where only 52 cards are ever in play, 
or in Piquet, where at most 64 cards or per- 
haps 56 cards are employed. 

This Second Edition of the Rules of Rus- 
sian Bank was submitted to, and approved 
by, an American Committee of Players sit- 
ting in New York during the early months 
of 1919. An International Committee sat 
in London during the months of July to 
October, 1919, under the Chairmanship of 
Mr. Edward Sydney Luard, well-known in 
Club-land throughout England and India as 
a Committeeman and all-round sportsman. 
Four-fifths of this Committee were "Orig- 
inal Players" who learnt the game in 1908 
from the Kaid. After certain verbal cor- 
rections and amendments had been made, 
the Rules as drafted by the American Com- 
mittee were unanimously approved by both 
the Committees, and in October, 1919, the 
International Committee gave permission 
to pubhsh under its authority. 

The Author. 



7 



RUSSIAN BANK 



The Rules of 
RUSSIAN BANK 
Authorized by 
The International Committee. 

1. The game of Russian Bank is played 
by two persons, each with a pack of fifty- 
two cards. The object of the game is to 
dispose of the cards. The player wins who 
first disposes of all of his cards. A card is 
disposed of when it is played by the Player, 
in accordance with the Rules, on the Banks 
or in the Table or built upon the adversary's 
Stock or Discard. 

2. Each player shuffles and cuts the pack 
of cards with which the other plays. Each 
deals one by one from his pack, face down- 
wards, twelve cards in a packet (called the 
Stock) which he places at his right hand. 

3. Each then deals the next four cards, 
face upwards, from his pack and arranges 
them in a line across the Board. These eight 
cards and the spaces occupied by them are 
called the Table. Sufficient space must be 



9 



RUSSIAN BANK 



left between the two rows of cards which 
constitute the Table within which to place 
two other parallel rows of cards (called the 
Banks). See Diagram 1. 

4. Each then cuts from the remaining 
(thirty-six) cards of his own pack (called 
the Hand) and the one cutting the lower 
card begins the game. The cards in the 
Hands should be placed in packets, face 
downwards, at the left hand of the respec- 
tive players. See Diagram I. 

5. The Player (who has won the cut and 
begins the game) takes from the Table and 
places on the Banks any Aces in the Table, 
and then any other cards that can be played, 
in ascending sequences of the same suit, on 
the Aces. A two plays on an Ace of the 
same suit and so on up to the King, when 
the suit is complete. See Diagram H. 

6. The Table may then be re-arranged by 
placing on any card, exposed in the Table, 
any other exposed card of the next lower 
value of a suit of the other color. Any 
exposed card may be moved by the player 
from any part of the Table to another part, 
but only one card may be moved at a time. 
See notes on "weaving" Section 58. 



10 



RUSSIAN BANK 



7. Since the cards are arranged in the 
Table in the sequences of the next lower 
value of a different color, it is obvious that 
a King cannot be played in the Table except 
in an unoccupied space. A red Queen can, 
however, be placed upon a black King, a 
black nine upon a red ten, a red six upon a 
black seven or a black two upon a red three, 
and so on. 

8. After the Player has finished arranging 
the cards in the Table, he turns up the top 
card of his Stock. Should this card be play- 
able on the Banks it must, under penalty of 
being Stopped and losing his right to con- 
tinue his innings, be so played. 

9. A Stop may not be called before this 
card has been turned, and. the game is not 
considered to have begun before the first 
Player turns a card from his Stock. As long 
as there is a card in the Stock the top one 
must be turned up before turning one from 
the Hand. 

10. The player may continue to turn up 
cards, one by one, from his Stock until they 
can no longer be disposed of on the Banks, 
or into a space, or on the descending se- 
quences in the Table. There is no penalty 

11 



RUSSIAN BANK 



for inadvertently exposing more than one 
card when turning up from the Hand or 
Stock. At a later stage of the game, after 
the adversary has been the Player, the 
Player may also dispose of his cards on the 
adversary's Stock or Discard, as hereinafter 
provided. Sections 29, 30. 

11. The Player has the option of refrain- 
ing from playing a card from his Stock when 
playable on the descending sequences or into 
the spaces, in which event it remains an 
exposed card on his Stock. The Player has 
the option of similarly refraining from play- 
ing an exposed card of his Discard, or a 
card turned up from his Hand. Under cer- 
tain circumstances toward the end of the 
game, (Sections 38, 70) the adversary may 
compel the Player, to play on the Banks or 
in the Table ; but the Player is never obliged 
to build on the adversary's Stock or Dis- 
card. 

12. When the Player ceases to play from 
his Stock, he must leave the last turned card 
face upwards and on the remaining cards 
of the Stock (if any). He then plays from 
the cards in his Hand, turning up the top 
card, and if he can dispose of it he may 



12 



RUSSIAN BANK 



continue by turning up successive cards in 
his Hand as long as he is able to dispose 
of them, and if at any time he is again able 
to play from his Stock he may resume such 
play, and thereafter continue exactly as in 
the event of an original play from his Stock. 

13. If the Player is able to resume play 
from his Stock, and can subsequently play 
from his cards in Hand and in Discard, it 
may be possible for him to play alternately 
from these dififerent packets until he ex- 
hausts one or all of them. 

14. The Player has been known to play 
all the cards from his Stock and in Hand 
before his adversary has turned a card. And 
it happens frequently that the Stock will be 
exhausted on the first play. See Dia- 
gram III. 

15. When the Player cannot dispose of 
the card turned up from his Hand, he places 
it as his Discard, face upwards in front of 
him, there to remain until his next turn to 
play. This placing of a card on the Dis- 
card is the signal that the Player is finished, 
and that the adversary may begin. Cards 
which have been turned up from the Hand, 
and which cannot be disposed of, are placed 

13 



RUSSIAN BANK 



in successive turns face upwards in a packet 
on top of the original Discard. 

16. The Player must, subject to his option 
of first playing any other card on the Banks, 
play the top card of his Discard on the 
Banks whenever it can be so played, under 
penalty of being Stopped and losing his 
right to continue. When not playable on 
the Banks he may play it on the Descend- 
ing Sequences; or on the adversary's Stock 
or Discard ; but a card cannot be played 
from the Discard into a space in the Table. 

17. Nor, while any card remains in the 
Player's Stock, may a card in his Hand be 
turned up if there is a space in the Table. 

Note on Rule 17. 

The Committee has received a letter say- 
ing of this rule that "the combined intelli- 
gence of two players cannot determine the 
meaning." The Rule means that if there 
are one or more unoccupied spaces in the 
Table, and a card or cards remaining in the 
Pla3^er's Stock, the space or spaces must be 
filled from the Stock before a card is turned 
up in his Hand. This rule may be evaded 
by moving a card or cards already in the 
Table so as to fill up the space or spaces 



14 



RUSSIAN BANK 



temporarily while the Player "gets a look" 
by turning up a card in his Hand. Most 
players do this whenever possible ; but there 
is frequently a danger that the space may 
be lost and for this reason the evasion is 
permitted. 

18. Only when or after his Stock has be- 
come exhausted may a space in the Table 
be filled by a card turned up in the Player's 
Hand. 

19. When the Player has turned his last 
card in his Hand and disposed of it, he then 
turns over his Discard (if any) which there- 
upon becomes his Hand. When the last 
card in his Hand is turned up but not dis- 
posed of, it becomes the top exposed card 
of his Discard, and so remains until his 
next innings. Then the top card of the 
Discard, if not disposed of, becomes by be- 
ing turned over the bottom one of the cards 
in his Hand. 

20. Cards may be turned more than once 
and become alternately the Discard and the 
Hand. When they are the Discard they 
may never be played into a space in the 
Table. When they become the Hand they 
may be so played (if the Stock is ex- 



15 



RUSSIAN BANK 



hausted). For example, there is one space 
in the Table and the Player has two cards 
left in the Discard — the King of Hearts 
face upwards and under it the Queen of 
Spades. He may not play the King* of 
Hearts into the space; but must turn over 
the Discard (which then becomes his Hand) 
and the Queen may (not must) be played 
into the space. 

21. The Player must, under penalty of 
being Stopped and losing his right to con- 
tinue, play a card on the Banks whenever 
he is able to do so. (See Section 70.) 

22. The rule as to the Stop applies to 
cards in the Table, on the Player's Discard, 
on his Stock, or turned up from his Hand. 

23. The Stop may not be called during 
the preliminary arranging before the first 
Player has turned up the top card of his 
Stock. 

24. The Player may continue as long as 
he can dispose of his cards, on the Banks, 
in the Table, or on his opponent's Stock 
or Discard, unless he transgresses the funda- 
mental rule of the game, (which requires 
that he at once play on the Banks a card 
that can be so disposed of), when his right 



16 



RUSSIAN BANK 



to play may be terminated by his adversary 
calling "Stop", whereupon the adversary 
becom.es the Player. The Player has the 
option of the order of playing on the Banks 
any one of two or more cards so playable, 
but he must play one of them under penalty 
of a Stop. 

25. A card may be played on the Banks 
either from the Table, the Discard, the 
Stock or the Hand (as the card is turned 
up) ; and the playing of one card on the 
Banks may make it possible to play another 
card already exposed. Failure to play such 
a card gives the adversary the right to claim 
a Stop. 

26. In the event of a Stop by reason of 
failing to play on the Banks a card that is 
in the Table, the cards remain as they are 
when the Stop is called and in the event of 
such a Stop, an exposed card lifted from the 
Stock goes back to it, a card turned up from 
the Stock becomes exposed on the Stock, a 
card lifted from the Discard goes back to it, 
and a card turned up from the Hand is re- 
turned. If the Player is Stopped because of 
playing a card from his Stock or from his 
Discard or from the cards turned up from 

17 



RUSSIAN BANK 



his Hand elsewhere than on the Banks, the 
card remains where he has played it, and 
the adversary's failure to play it on the 
Banks, upon his becoming the Player, will 
subject him to a similar Stop. 

27. In the event of the Player signifying 
that he has finished his play while there re- 
mains one or more cards exposed on his Dis- 
card or his Stock which are playable on the 
Banks, the adversary (then becoming the 
Player) may reserve his right to call "Stop" 
until his adversary in turn again becomes 
the Player, when he may call "Stop" in the 
^vent that the Player does not at once play 
on the Banks an exposed card or cards so 
playable. 

28. A Stop may be called as soon as a 
card which is playable on the Banks has 
been placed elsewhere, even though the 
Player may still be touching it. The ad- 
versary may call "Stop" at any time after a 
card which is playable on the Banks has not 
been so played, as for example, when such 
a card has been exposed in the Table and 
then covered. 

29. Whenever the adversary has a card 
exposed on his Stock or Discard the Player 



18 



RUSSIAN BANK 



may build on either of such cards by plac- 
ing on them a card or cards of the same suit 
and in sequence, whether higher or lower^ 
and may alternate by first placing a higher 
and then a lower (or a lower and then a 
higher) in sequence of the s^me suit. 

30. The cards which may be so built on 
the adversary's cards may be taken either 
from the Player's Stock, Hand, or Discard, 
or from the Table. Some Players call Build- 
ing, "Loading". 

31. When the Player shall have disposed 
of all his cards in accordance with the rules 
of the game, whether on the Banks, into the 
Table or by Building them, he wins thirty 
points for the game ; and in addition thereto 
two points for each card (if any) remaining 
in his adversary's Stock, and one point for 
each card remaining in his adversary's Hand 
and Discard. See Diagram IV. 

32. It is obvious that the lowest winning 
score is thirty-one points, while in actual 
play the known maximum score before the 
1st of January, 1917, was one hundred and 
nineteen points. On that date the Author 
won a game of one hundred and twenty- 
three points. The adversary was left with 

19 



RUSSIAN BANK 



twenty cards in his Stock, counting forty 
points ; fifty-three cards in his Hand and 
Discard combined and also lost thirty points 
for the game. The points won and lost in 
1000 actual games played average 56 gross, 
or 26 in cards plus 30 points for game. The 
stakes per point may be safely based upon 
this average. 

33. There is not one chance in two thou- 
sand of wining a game of over one hundred 
and twenty points ; but it is believed that 
the cards could be so arranged as to show a 
total of one hundred and sixty-four. In this 
case the loser would be left with thirty-four 
cards in his Stock and sixty-six cards in his 
Hand and Discard. 

34. If either player abandons the game 
he loses twenty points in addition to the 
thirty game points plus two points for each 
card (if any) remaining in his Stock plus 
one point for each card in his Hand and 
Discard. 

35. If the loser of the game mixes without 
counting them, any cards of his Stock with 
those remaining in his Hand or Discard so 
as to be unable to distinguish them, all of 
his cards shall be counted at two points 
apiece. 

20 



RUSSIAN BANK 



36. If the loser, without counting them, 
mixes his remaining cards with those on 
the Banks or in the Table so as to be unable 
to distinguish them the winner may claim 
ninety points for cards plus thirty points for 
game. 

37. The game may be drawn by mutual 
consent. 

38. The game is drawn when both players 
have a card or cards that cannot be disposed 
of, irrespective of the number that each may 
still retain. If the Player has in his Hand 
any card playable in the Table he may be 
required to play it when it has been turned 
up in his Hand for the third time, provided 
no other card has been disposed of on two 
previous turns of his Hand. If the exposed 
card on top of the Player's Stock is so play- 
able, he may be required to play it after he 
has twice turned over his Discard or his 
Hand. See also Section 70. 

39. The game is drawn if either pack is 
proven incorrect, or imperfect, or redun- 
dant. "Proven" means to the satisfaction 
of both players, or to the satisfaction of an 
agreed arbitrator. Preceding games played 
with the same pack or packs stand good. 



21 



RUSSIAN BANK 



Terms and Definitions. 

40. The Stock— Originally the first twelve 
cards dealt by each player and placed in a 
packet, face downwards, at his right hand. 
Subsequently it may be topped by an ex- 
posed card, which has been turned from or 
built upon the original Stock, and is not dis- 
posed of for the time being. Each Player 
has the privilege of so extending the cards 
built upon his Stock that he may ascertain 
the cards so built thereon, but only with- 
out changing their order. 

41. The Table— The eight cards (four 
from each pack) originally arranged in two 
rows on the Board. Subsequently it con- 
sists of these eight spaces, either empty or 
occupied by single card or by cards that 
have been played in descending sequences 
of alternating colors. As a matter of con- 
venience, most Players at the beginning of 
the game arrange the higher cards on one 
side of the Table and the lower cards on the 
other side. 

42. The Board — To distinguish the Table 
from the Card-table, or other surface on 
which the game is played, the latter is called 
"The Board." 



22 



RUSSIAN BANK 



43. The Banks — The eight spaces be- 
tween the two rows of the Table and the 
cards (consisting of the Aces and the cards 
thereafter played upon them in ascending 
sequences of the same suit) that may oc- 
cupy these spaces. It is customary for each 
Player to place the Aces from his pack on 
the row to his right hand, and similar Aces 
from the other pack are placed side by side. 

44. The Hand — Originally the thirty-six 
cards left to each person after first distribut- 
ing the Stock and the Table. The cards of 
the Hand are only to be turned up one at a 
time for the purpose of play, and any card 
that is not disposed of is placed face up- 
wards on the Player's Discard. After the 
Hand has become exhausted, the Discard is 
turned over and then becomes the Hand. 
The Hand must be placed face downwards 
in a packet on the Board at the left hand of 
the Player. 

45. The Discard— The cards turned up 
from the Hand which are not disposed of 
and which remain face upwards in a packet 
on the Board, the only card of the Discard 
which may be seen by the adversary being 
the top one. Each player has the privilege. 



23 



RUSSIAN BANK 



however, of so extending his own Discard 
that he may ascertain the cards contained 
therein, but only without changing their 
order. If he extends his Discard he must do 
so openly in such a way that the adversary 
may also see the cards. 

46. Whenever the Player exercises his 
option to extend (or "spread") the faced-up 
cards on his Stock or Discard, he must give 
the adversary as good an opportunity of see- 
ing all of the cards faced-up as the Player 
has of seeing any one of them. 

47. The Player must not for example un- 
cover the "squeezers" only, if the adversary 
is too near-sighted to see them; or "close 
up" too quickly ; or extend his Stock or Dis- 
card when the adversary is looking away, 
or has temporarily left the Board. More- 
over the adversary should never extend his 
Stock or Discard, as by doing so his action 
manifestly tends to distract the Player. 
(As a counsel of perfection the adversary 
should keep his fingers away from "the 
Board"). In extending the Stock or Dis- 
card the cards should only be spread, not 
raised or lifted. 



24 



RUSSIAN BANK 



48. A card is Played when the Player lets 
go of it, even though still touching it: and 
a card once played may not be replaced by 
the Player upon his Stock, Discard or Hand. 

49. Exposed Cards — The turned-up card 
of the Player's Stock (if any), the top card 
of the Player's Discard (if any), single cards 
occupying spaces in the Table, and the cards 
at the smaller end of the descending se- 
quences in the Table are called "exposed 
cards." 

50. Building— Playing on the exposed 
cards of the adversary's Stock or Discard a 
card of the same suit but of immediately 
greater or lesser value ; a process which may 
be continued as long as there are cards 
turned up from the Player's Hand or his 
Stock, or exposed cards which permit there- 
of. This is one of the most interesting and 
often decisive features of the game. 

51. In building cards on the adversary's 
Stock it is preferable to build upwards, as 
this probably permits of the least opportun- 
ity of the adversary being able to dispose of 
them. If building on the adversary's Dis- 
card, it is preferable to build downwards, as 
his Discard will subsequently be played as 



25 



RUSSIAN BANK 



his Hand with the cards in reverse order. 
For example, unless there is some obvious 
reason to the contrary, it would generally 
be better play to build the six and seven on 
the five exposed on the adversary's Stock 
rather than to build the four and three on 
the five ; but, if the five be exposed on his 
Discard the four and three should be built 
in preference to the six and seven. 

52. It is useless to build on the adver- 
sary's Stock or Discard from the descending 
sequences in the Table unless other cards 
are disposed of by the Player, for it is obvi- 
ous that, in such circumstances, the adver- 
sary can replace the card or cards where they 
were taken from. Not only this, but it may 
be of advantage to the adversary, in the op- 
tion it gives him to replace or not. 

53. The Player — Is the one who wins the 
cut, and he remains the Player as long as he 
can dispose of his cards, or until he is 
Stopped or unless he previously signifies 
that he has finished, by turning a card from 
his Hand and placing it exposed on his Dis- 
card. Then the adversary becomes the 
Player and so remains as long as he can dis- 
pose of his cards or until he is Stopped or 



26 



RUSSIAN BANK 



signified that he is finished ; and so on alter- 
nately. 

54. In turning up cards, either from his 
Stock or from cards in his Hand the Player 
should turn up each card towards his ad- 
versary so that the latter may see it before, 
or at least as soon as, the Player does, and 
a card is "turned" as soon as the adversary 
can name it. 

55. Until the adversary becomes the 
Player he takes no part in the play except to 
call ''Stop", when the Player fails to play on 
the Banks a card so playable; but the ad- 
versary may call attention to errors of the 
Player, who must thereupon correct them. 
For example, the Player might place a red 
eight on a red (instead of a black) nine in 
the Table, or he might play on the Banks a 
card not so playable, or, if playable, he 
might play it on the wrong card. Such 
errors involve no penalty. 

56. Cards "Raised" and "Lifted"— -A card 
is "raised" as soon as a Player takes hold 
of it, though it may not be "lifted" free from 
the board. Simply touching a card is not 
"raising" it. Although the words raise and 
lift may be synonymous they are here used 



27 



RUSSIAN BANK 



in the sense of raising a ladder and lifting 
a weight. 

57. Intentionally sliding a card from the 
Stock or Discard or from one place in the 
Table to another place is equivalent to 
raising. 

58. Weaving — The moving of a card from 
one place to another in the Table is called 
weaving. In theory it is against the rules 
to move more than one card at a time ; but 
in practice more than one card may, if the 
adversary does not object, be moved if there 
is a space (or spaces) in the Table, in the 
process of re-arranging or "weaving"; but 
always at the Player's risk of a Stop if one 
of the cards be playable on the Banks. In 
weaving to play on a higher card of a de- 
scending sequence, when there is one space 
two cards may be moved ; if two spaces, four 
cards ; if three spaces, eight cards. As the 
Player should not ask his adversary to "con- 
cede" such moving of more than one card, 
the adversary does not lose his right to call 
a Stop if he replies in the affirmative. 

59. When the Player has two unoccupied 
spaces in the Table and the card he is about 
to play fits under a descending sequence of 



28 



RUSSIAN BANK 



three cards he loses an advantage unless he 
moves two of the three cards before play- 
ing into the Table. For example, there is a 
descending sequence of black eight, red 
seven, black six. Before playing a red nine 
in the table move the black six into one 
space and the red seven into another. Place 
the black six on the red seven. Play the 
red nine in the Table, place the black eight 
on it, move the black six into the space ; 
place the red seven on the black eight, place 
the black six on the red seven and there will 
be still two unoccupied spaces. (Follow this 
and all other examples with the cards be- 
fore you on the Board and you will save 
time). 

60. Players while Weaving or Building 
may hold the top card of the Stock or leave 
it face upwards on the remaining cards (if 
any) of the Stock. 

61. The packs should be thoroughly 
shuffled before every game. The packets 
must not be shuffled during the game. The 
Ace is the lowest card in cutting. Should 
a player, in cutting, exposes more than one 
card he must cut again. In the event of a 



29 



RUSSIAN BANK 



tie, the cards in the Hands must be re-cut 
until there is a decision. 

62. Choice of seats and cards for the first 
game may be decided by cutting. In subse- 
quent games the loser has choice of seats 
and the winner choice of cards. 

63. A player may re-shuffle his own pack 
before the game begins, but, if he does so, 
it must be cut again by his adversary. There 
is no penalty if the adversary neglects to 
cut again. 

64. In case of exposure of one or more 
cards before the game begins, the adversary 
may require a re-shuffle and (or) a re-cut. 



30 



RUSSIAN BANK 



THE STOP 

65. The theory of the Stop is extremely 
simple ; the putting of the theory into prac- 
tice is somewhat complicated. When a 
Player begins his turn there is usually no 
exposed card playable on the Banks. Be- 
fore he has finished there may be ten cards 
so playable. 

66. The moment when the Adversary ac- 
quires the right to call a Stop is when the 
Player takes some definite action, in relation 
to the cards, other than that of playing on 
the Banks. The spreading of the Stock or 
Discard is not such a definite action. 

67. If the card playable on the Banks be: 

A : The exposed card on the Player's Dis- 
card. The Stop may be called Vs^hen the 
Player : 

1. Raises a card in the Table or on the 
Stock. 

2. Turns a card in the Hand or in the 
Stock. 

3. Turns over the Discard to play as the 
Hand. 

4. Plays a card into the Table. 



31 



RUSSIAN BANK 



B: The card turned over from the Hand, 
but not yet played. The Stop may be called 
when the Player: 

1. Raises a card in the Table. 

2. Raises or turns a card on or in the 
Stock. 

3. Raises a card from the Discard. 

C : The exposed card on the Stock. The 
Stop may be called when the Player : 

1. Raises a card in the Table. 

2. Raises a card from the Discard. 

3. Turns a card from the Hand. 

4. Turns over the Discard. 

5. Plays a card into the Table. 

D : An exposed card in the Table. The 
Stop may be called when the Player: 

1. Raises any other card in the Table that 
is not playable on the Banks. 

2. Raises a card from the Stock or Dis- 
card. 

3. Turns a card from the Hand or in the 
Stock. 

4. Turns over the Discard. 

5. Plays a card into the Table. 

32 



RUSSIAN BANK 



The above are simple cases. The more 
complicated cases arise when two or more 
exposed cards are playable on the Banks. 

68. In general a Stop may be called as 
soon as another exposed card is raised or 
played or an unexposed card is turned. If 
the Stop is called on a card being raised or 
turned the card so raised or turned goes 
back where it was, except when turned up 
from the Stock. If the Stop is called after 
a card is played the card so played remains. 
There is an exception to this rule when the 
card wrongly played into the Table instead 
of on the Banks is the Player's last card. 
In such a case the card, instead of remain- 
ing, goes back to the Player and remains 
face upwards as his Discard. 

69. The right of the adversary to call a 
Stop continues throughout the turn of the 
Player in which the penalty is inctirred, 
and may be exercised at any time during 
that turn until the card in relation to which 
the penalty was incurred is played on the 
Banks. But the adversary's right is sus- 
pended whenever the Player is holding in 
his fingers a card playable on the Banks 



33 



RUSSIAN BANK 



other than the one in relation to which the 
penalty was incurred. 

70. A Player may deliberately incur the 
penalty of a Stop on first going over his 
Hand ; but may not do so after his Discard 
has been once turned ; and after the turn of 
the Player's Discard the adversary may re- 
quire the Player to play on the Banks the 
card for which the penalty has been in- 
curred, and require the Player to continue 
as if he had not been Stopped. The ad- 
versary may likewise require the Player to 
play on the Banks any card exposed on the 
Stock that is so playable after the Player's 
Hand and Discard are exhausted. 

71. The Rule of Reason: 

Where the intention of the Player to 
make a play on the Banks is obvious the 
adversary may not call a Stop ; as for ex- 
ample, when a Player places on the Banks a 
wrong card or places the right card on the 
wrong pile of the Banks. In a similar spirit 
Rule 61 of the Laws of Auction Bridge, 
1904-7, which reads : "A declaration once 
made cannot be altered" was held not to 



34 



RUSSIAN BANK 



include slips of the tongue. See Decisions,. 
Sections 80 to 89. 

72. Disputes as to facts must, failing- 
agreement, be referred to the bystander (or 
bystanders if there are more than one). The 
burden of proof is on the one who claims a 
penalty. Where the facts are not in dis- 
pute but do not seem to be covered by the 
rules the principle holds that no one should 
through his own irregularity gain any ad- 
vantage for himself or prejudice his adver- 
sary. 



35 



RUSSIAN BANK 



ETIQUETTE 

73. The Etiquette of the game requires 
that bystanders keep silent, and do nothing 
to distract the players. At no time during 
the game is it fair, or safe, to ask questions 
or make remarks. 

74. Whenever appealed to, it is the duty 
of a disinterested bystander to decide a dis- 
puted question of fact if he is able to do so. 

75. If a bystander calls attention to any- 
thing affecting the game he may be called 
upon to pay all the stakes and bets of the 
player whose interest he has prejudiced. 

76. THE PLAYER MUST NOT:— 

(a) Play a card from his Discard into a 
space in the Table. 

(b) Play a card from his Hand into a 
space in the Table while any card remains 
in his Stock. 

(c) Touch any of his adversary's unplayed 
cards ; neither those in his Stock, in his 
Hand nor in his Discard. 

(d) Take any card from the Banks. 

(e) Look at any unexposed card in his 
own Hand or Stock. 

(f) Turn over a card or cards already in 
the Table for the purpose of seeing from 
which pack it, or they, came. 



36 



RUSSIAN BANK 



(g) Turn up cards from his Stock or 
Hand so that he can see them before the 
adversary can. Some players insist upon 
an agreement that any one so turning a 
card after being twice warned, in the same 
game, shall lose 30 points and 10 points for 
each subsequent fault. 

(h) Extend his Stock or Discard in such 
a manner as to get a better look than his 
adversary is able to. 

(i) Ask his adversary to concede a play, 
(j) Hold in same hand two cards, such as 

one from Stock and one from Hand. 

(k) Turn up more than one card at a time 
from his Hand or Discard. 

77. Players who, through inadvertence or 
thoughtlessness, frequently violate the eti- 
quette of the game should agree to be pen- 
alized. 

78. Players who knowingly violate the 
etiquette of the game should be "boycotted." 

79. The adversary must not until he be- 
comes the Player touch any of the cards on 
the Board and particularly must not extend 
his Stock or Discard or otherwise distract 
the Player. 



37 



RUSSIAN BANK 



DECISIONS 

I 

80. The Player lifts a card which has 
fallen from the Board to the floor while 
holding in his hand a card playable on the 
Banks. The adversary claims a Stop. De- 
cision against the adversary. 

II 

81. A missing card or cards found on the 
floor is not proof that the pack was imper- 
fect at the beginning of the game. 

Ill 

82. A missing card or cards found in the 
box from which the pack was taken would 
be proof of an imperfect pack. 

IV 

83. At the beginning of a game the ad- 
versary inadvertently mixes up his Hand 
with his Stock. Decision: The Player may 
claim a drawn game or may draw from the 
adversary's forty-eight cards (face down) 
twelve cards to form the adversary's Stock. 

V 

84. One of the Banks is built up with one 
or more cards missing. Decision : "Both 



38 



RUSSIAN BANK 



to blame." When, after the error is discov- 
ered, the missing card or cards become play- 
able it or they must be inserted where miss- 
ing; and the Player continues as if there 
had been no error. 

VI 

85. The Player turns from his Hand a 
card which he holds while he Weaves a 
play which makes a space in the Table, in 
doing which a card playable on the Banks is 
exposed. The Player advances toward the 
space the upheld card, it touches the Table 
but before it is released a Stop is called by 
the adversary. Decision: The adversary 
spoke too soon. No Stop in this case until 
the upheld card is "played." 

VII 

86. The Player, instead of lifting and 
playing a card in the Table playable on the 
Banks, lifts another card in the Table and 
is Stopped. The Player claims that as the 
card lifted cannot possibly be played or dis- 
posed of and can only be replaced where it 
was lifted from, there was an obvious error 
and he had not incurred the penalty of a 
Stop. Decision : No Stop. 



39 



RUSSIAN BANK 



VIII 

87. Hearts on the Banks are built up to 
the five. The six and seven of Hearts are 
both exposed. There is a black eight ex- 
posed. There is an open space in the Table. 
The Player lifts the seven of Hearts and is 
Stopped. He claims his intention to play 
the six of Hearts was obvious. Decision : 
Against the Player. 

IX 

88. Circumstances the same as in Case 
VIII except that the Player is not Stopped 
until after he had played the seven of Hearts 
on the five of Hearts on the Banks. Deci- 
sion : No Stop. The Player's intention was 
made obvious. 

89. All questions as to these Rules ad- 
dressed to the Publishers, "Attention of the 
Author of the Rules of Russian Bank," will 
receive, in due course, the consideration of 
the Committee. This also applies to sug- 
gestions in relation to amendment of the 
Rules. 



40 



RUSSIAN BANK 



VARIATIONS 

90. French Bank 

or 

"Crepette" 

See Preface. There have been numerous 
variations of Crepette, or Crapette, played 
at different times and places in France and 
England. In nearly all these variations 
cards may be played into the Table from 
either the Hand or the Stock before the lat- 
ter is exhausted. In some there is no Build- 
ing, and in many cases each Player may 
play on only one side of the Table. 

91. British Bank 

or 

"Stop Patience" 

1. Thirteen cards are dealt for the Stock. 

2. Cards can only be played into the Table 
in descending sequences of the same suit. 
The Player may play on such sequences on 
both sides of the Table, but 

3. The Player may only use the spaces 
on one side of the Table. 

4. In each turn the Player may turn an- 
other card from the Hand if the first one 
cannot be disposed of. 



41 



RUSSIAN BANK 



5. The Player may Build on the adver- 
sary's Discard and not on his Stock, and 
may not Build with cards from the Table. 

6. The Player may be Stopped for eight 
reasons, two of which are for failure to play 
on the Banks, and six for other errors and 
neglects. 

92. Belgian Bank 

or 

"Options" 

When the Player has been Stopped the 
adversary has the following options : — 

1. If the card (or cards) playable on the 
Bank is on the Player's Stock or Discard 
the adversary may compel the Player to 
play them before the Stop becomes eflfective. 

2. And if the Stop arises through the 
Player turning up a card in his Hand the 
adversary may compel the card so turned 
up to be exposed on the Discard instead of 
being turned back. 

This variation increases the penalties for 
a Stop and is to the advantage of the 
adversary. 



42 



RUSSIAN BANK 



93. Italian Bank 

Thirteen cards are dealt out for the Stock 
and the top card of each Stock is turned up. 
The lower of the two cards so turned be- 
comes the Player. 

This variation adds to the advantage of 
the first Player. 



43 



EXPLANATION OF DIAGRAM 



No. 1. 

IN POSITION FOR PLAY. 

94. Here each of the players has dealt to 
his right hand his packet of twelve cards, 
face downwards, constituting his Stock ; has 
arranged four cards, face upwards, in a line 
across the Board, these eight cards consti- 
tuting the Table ; and has placed his remain- 
ing packet of thirty-six cards to his left, face 
downwards. 



EXPLANATION OF DIAGRAM 



No. II. 

AFTER "A" HAS BEEN THE PLAYER. 

95. The cut having been won by A, he has 
moved the Ace of Diamonds from the Table 
on the Banks, and has then played from his 
Stock and Hand until he cannot dispose of 
any more cards, vv^hereupon he discontinues 
play leaving a card exposed both on his 
Stock and on his Discard. B now becomes 
the Player. 



II. 



B 




A 



EXPLANATION OF DIAGRAM 



No. III. 

ADVANCED POSITION. 

96. Here A has disposed of his Stock, and 
seven of the Aces have been played on the 
Banks. 



III. B 




87 



!4 * 



?0 

0^0 

O'e 



01 r 



♦ ? 



860irOM 







^0 


o: 



kfofjtof9[8'7 



^0^ 
OgeS 



79543 A 



♦ t 



EXPLANATION OF DIAGRAM 



No. IV. 

CONCLUSION. 

97. A has disposed of all his cards, leaving 
B with six cards in his Stock, eight in his 
Hand and three in his Discard. A wins 
thirty points for the game, plus twelve 
points for the six cards left in B's Stock, 
plus eleven points for the cards left in Hand 
and Discard, or fifty-three points in all. 



IV. 



B 




9 





O'r. 




fO 
0^0 

o; 



t 





2 




KQJI098A A 
« 0*0*10 V V 





RUSSIAN BANK 



INDEX 



Section 

Abandoned Games 34 

Aces 5 

Aces to right-hand in the Banks 43 

Adversary, The 55 

Adversary, Etiquette for the 79 

Adversary may compel play 38, 70 

Adversary's Discard 10, 16, 29, 30, 50, 51 

Adversary's Stock 10, 16, 29, 30, 50, 51 

Banks, The 3, 5, 43, 94 

Banks, Aces in the 5, 43 

Banks, Cards Playable on the 5, 43, 67, 68 

Belgian Bank, The Game of 92 

Board, The 3, 42 

British Bank, The Game of 91 

Building or Loading 10, 16, 29, 30, 50, 51, 52 

Bystanders, Duties of 73, 74 

Bystanders, Penalty Incurred by 75 

Card Played 48, 68, 85 

Card Played, when it goes back 68 

Card, Turning more than one 10 

Cards, Choice of 62 

Cards disposed of 1 

Cards exposed before game begins 64 

Cards exposed 6, 49 

Cards held while Weaving 60 

Cards lifted 56, 80 

Cards missing from the Banks 84 

Cards massing from the pack 81, 82 

Cards mixed 35, 36, 83 

53 . 



RUSSIAN BANK 



Section 

Cards moved one by one 58 

Cards moved one by one, exception 58 

Cards, Option in playing 11, 24, 38, 70 

Cards playable on the Banks 8, 65, 66, 67, 68 

Cards played 48, 68, 85 

Cards raised 26, 56, 68 

Cards slided 57 

Cards touched 56 

Cards turned 9, 10, 54, 76 

Cards turned back 26, 68 

Cards turned up 9, 10, 49 

Conceding a Weave 58, 76 

Crepette or Crapette, The Game of 90 

Cutting 2, 4 

Dealing 2, 3 

Decisions 80 to 89 

Decisions, Questions for 89 

Diagrams 94, 95, 96, 97 

Discard, The 

11, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 25, 27, 44, 45, 68, 94 

Discard, The Adversary's 10, 16, 29, 30 

Discard, The Adversary's, Building on... 16, 50, 51 

Discard once turned " 70 

Discard, Spreading of 45, 46, 47, 66, 76, 79 

Discard, Turning of 19, 20, 70 

Disposing of cards 1 

Disputes as to facts 72 

Drawn games 37, 38, 39 

Errors in play 55 

Etiquette of the game 73 to 79 

Etiquette for the Adversary 79 

Etiquette for the Bystanders ..73, 74, 75 

54 



RUSSIAN BANK 



Section 

Etiquette for the Player 76, 77, 78 

Evidence of intention 86, 87, 88 

Exception to Rule on Cards Played 68 

Exception to Rule Moving One by One... 58 

Exposed Cards' 6, 49 

Exposed Cards before game begins 64 

Extending the Discard 45, 46, 47, 66, 76, 79 

Extending the Stock 40, 46, 47, 66, 76, 79 

Facts, Disputes as to 72 

Faulty pack 39 

French Bank, The Game of 90 

Game, Beginning of the 9 

Game, History of the Preface 

Game, Legend of the Preface 

Game, Penalty for Abandoning the 34 

Game, Scoring of the 31 

Game, Variations of the 90, 91, 92, 93 

Games, Abandoned 34 

Games, Drawn 37, 38, 39 

Games, Maximum 32 

Games, Minimum 32 

Getting a Look 17 

Hand, The 

4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 25, 44, 94 

History of the Game Preface 

Intention of the Player 71, 86, 87, 88 

Italian Bank, The Game of 93 

Last card goes back. When..... 68 

Lifting a card 56 

Lifting a card from the floor 80 

Loading or Building 10, 16, 29, 30, 50, 51, 52 

Looking 17 

5;5 



RUSSIAN BANK 



Section 

Maximum Games 32 

Minimum Games 32 

Missing Cards 81, 82, 84 

Mixing Cards before scoring 35, 36 

Mixing Cards in Hand and Stock 35, 83 

Moving Cards in Table or Weaving. ... 58, 60, 76 

Obvious Intention 71, 86, 87, 88 

Option of the Adversary > 38, 70 

Option of The Player 11, 24, 38, 70 

Options, The Game of 92 

Pack, Faulty 39 

Player, The 1, 5, 53 

Player, The, must not 47, 76 

Player's Innings 8, 15, 24, 27 

Player's Intention 71, 86, 87, 88 

Player's Option on the Banks 24 

Player's Option in disposing 11, 38, 70 

Player's Option to incur Stop 70 

Playing a card 48, 68, 85 

Playing a card, Refraining from 11, 38, 70 

Principles of The Rules 72 

Raised card replaced 26, 68 

Raising a card 56 

Replacing raised card 26, 68 

Replacing turned card 26, 68 

Rule of Reason 71 

Rules, Disputes under the 72, 89 

Rules, History of the Preface 

Rules, New 

Rules, Principles of the 72 

Scoring the Game 31 

Seats, Choice of 

56 



RUSSIAN BANK 



Section 

Sequences, Ascending 5, 29 

Sequences, Descending 6, 7, 16, 29 

Shuffling 2, 61, 63, 64 

Sliding a Card 57 

Spaces in the Table 7, 16, 17, 18, 58, 59, 76 

Spaces in the Table filled during play 17, 18 

Spreading the Discard 45, 46, 47, 66, 76, 79 

Spreading the Stock 40, 46, 47, 66, 76, 79 

Stock, The 

2, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 25, 27, 40, 94 

Stock, Adversary's 10, 16, 29, 30 

Stock, Building on Adversary's 16, 50, 51 

Stop Patience, The Game of 91 

Stop, The 8, 9, 16, 21 to 28, 65, 71 

Stop as Player begins 27 

Stop, Complicated Cases of 67 

Stop, Decisions on 80, 85, 86, 87, 88 

Stop deliberately incurred 70 

Stop on failure to play 26 

Stop on playing another card 67, 68 

Stop on playing a wrong place 26 

Stop on raising another card 67, 68 

Stop, on turning another card 67, 68 

Stop, Right to, begins 28, 66 

Stop, Right to, continues 28, 69 

Stop, Right to, ends 69 

Stop, Right to, suspended 69 

Stop, Theory of the 65 

Stop, Waiting, and forcing play 70 

Table, The 3, 5, 6, 22, 25, 41, 94 

Table, The spaces in 7, 16, 17, 18, 58, 59, 76 

Table spaces filled during play 17, 18 

57 



RUSSIAN BANK 



Section 

Turned-Up cards 9, 10, 49 

Turning cards 9, 10, 54, 76 

Turning cards back 26, 68 

Turning the Discard 19, 20, 70 

Touching cards 56 

Variations of the game 90, 91, 92, 93 

Weaving 58, 60 

Weaving conceded ...58, 76 

Winning the game 31 



58 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



019 953 839 1 




